Kohli, Rahane rested; Rohit leads India in 100th first-class game

Rohit Sharma, playing his 100th first-class game, is leading India against County Select XI in Durham in the absence of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.

Rohit Sharma walks out to bat at the Riverside Ground in Durham on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin have opted out of the three-day first-class warm-up fixture against County Select XI in Durham that started on Tuesday.

"Kohli felt stiffness in his back on late Monday evening and he has been advised rest from the three-day first-class warm-up game by the BCCI Medical Team.

"Rahane has mild swelling around his left upper hamstring. This has been addressed by an injection. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him, and he is expected to fully recover well in time for the first Test against England starting from August 4 in Nottingham," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

Rohit Sharma, playing his 100th first-class game, is leading the side.

The ECB made a request to the Indian team management to let two players from the Indian contingent play for County Select XI after some of their players were deemed to be unavailable either due to injury or close contacts of a Covid-19 positive person. Accordingly, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have been made available to play for their team.

But Avesh suffered a thumb injury while fielding. It remains to be seen if it is a dislocation or a minor injury.

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Rohit (9) and Mayank Agarwal (28) added 33 runs for the first wicket before Lyndon James sent both the openers back in quick succession.

All eyes will be on Hanuma Vihari, who will be in action for India after the tour of Australia, and the four-pronged pace attack comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.

Mohammed Shami has been rested for the game, too.

The Indian cricketers wore black armbands to mourn the demise of former batsman and World Cup winner Yashpal Sharma, who passed away due to cardiac arrest on July 13. Ravi Shastri, head coach, Team India, was his teammate in the 1983 World Cup.

India will play an intra-squad game from July 26 to July 28 at the same venue.

India: Rohit Sharma(C), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.